Gen. Ugandan Sam Kavuma has officially taken over as the commander of the African Union ATMIS. He replaced Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, who left the post in April to become the deputy chief of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF).
Gen. Sam Kavuma, who arrived in Somalia on Sunday, held talks with ATMIS Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef and the senior leadership, receiving information on the security situation in Somalia and ongoing plans.
Gen. Kavuma praised the joint efforts of the DFS and international partners, stressing that ATMIS will continue its commitment to reducing the influence of Al-Shabaab and promoting peace, which he said will enable Somalis to recover. build their nation without fear.
Gen. Kavuma has held many senior positions in his country, including Division Commander, Deputy Commander of the Air Force, and Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces. Prior to his appointment at ATMIS, he served in the Ugandan Parliament and as the Deputy Head of Coordination of the National Capital Creation Programme.
He led the Ugandan forces as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) between 2014 and 2016, and was also the commander of the regional mission against the insurgency in the Central African Republic.
